Enforcement Directorate arrested Partha Chatterjee on Saturday
Kolkata:
The Calcutta High Court has said that Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested in connection with the school job scam, should be taken by air ambulance to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar tomorrow. The court also noted that given his “extreme power and position” as the senior-most cabinet minister, it would not be difficult for Mr Chatterjee to “avoid interrogation”, the judge remarked.
Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday in an alleged money laundering case related to the teacher recruitment scam. The arrest came after Rs 20 crore was recovered from his aide Arpita Mukherjee, who has also been arrested.
Mr Chatterjee was sent to ED custody for two days. His lawyers later claimed that he was unwell. Sources said the 69-year-old, who has several health issues, complained of uneasiness.
After the government SSKM hospital was admitted to the ICCU, the Enforcement Directorate went to court, which allowed Mr Chatterjee to be admitted to the SSKM hospital. The agency then challenged the order in the High Court.
Justice Vivek Choudhary in his judgment today said: “In such background and in view of the fact that the accused is the senior-most cabinet minister in the state of West Bengal, having immense power and position, it would not be impossible for the accused to be interrogated. Serious illness to escape and the aid of other political officials to take shelter under the guise of medical treatment. If this happens, Lady Justice will be doomed to the tears of hundreds and thousands of deserving candidates whose futures were sacrificed for money was. .”
“The investigating agency is directed to take the accused to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar by air ambulance early morning on July 25, 2022,” the judge ordered.
A team of experts – from the departments of cardiology, nephrology, respiratory medicine and endocrinology – will examine Mr Chatterjee. The court said that their report will be linked with the report of SSKM Hospital.
On Monday, at 4 pm, the minister should be presented in the special ED court of Kolkata through virtual mode.